Four of San Diego County's luxury hotels have made it onto Travel and Leisure's ranking this year for the top resorts in the continental United States.

Part of the magazine's annual "world's best awards," the top 50 list spotlights the Grand Del Mar in Carmel Valley, at No. 4; L'Auberge Del Mar, at No. 34; Rancho Valencia Resort, at No. 37; and Rancho Bernardo Inn, at No. 47.

None of the four hotels was ranked in last year's survey.

"Our readers are a discerning and sophisticated group of travelers," said Jennifer Flowers, travel news editor for Travel and Leisure. "We’re thrilled to see they're going to San Diego because it has so much to offer."

The ranking for hotels is based on a readers survey that takes into consideration five characteristics: hotel rooms and facilities, location, service, food and value. For each characteristic, respondents were asked to rate a property on a scale of 1 to 5. Those ratings were then averaged, creating an overall score.

The Grand Del Mar, which is owned by Douglas F. Manchester, who is also publisher of U-T San Diego, earlier in the year was one of just six resorts in the country to receive three Five-Star designations from Forbes in the categories of lodging, spa and dining.